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# My Coffee Journey
- URL: https://robweidner.com/my-coffee-journey/
- Published: 2025-01-30T20:30:20.000Z
- Updated: 2025-02-20T19:45:07.000Z
- Author: Rob Weidner, PMP
- Tags: Coffee, Travel

I grew up not really liking or drinking coffee. I only started drinking coffee at [DePauw University](https://www.depauw.edu/?ref=robweidner.com), where there were plenty of [Green Mountain Coffee](https://www.greenmountaincoffee.com/?ref=robweidner.com) machines across campus. At the time, coffee was just fuel—something I used to cram last-minute for projects and exams. I don’t really know why I started drinking it—I never liked soda, and sparkling water wasn’t a thing. *(Side note: I have a future post planned on how I automated sparkling water and my history with it.)*

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/64694596-FEE5-4E9C-8E1E-E58821092AC7_1_105_c.jpeg)

Graduation Selfie with Kal Penn

I never truly appreciated coffee until I went to **South Africa** in 2012 for a semester abroad, where I interned at [Big Sky Productions](https://bigskyproductions.co.za/?ref=robweidner.com). Those four months were pivotal—not just for my coffee journey, but for my entire life.

From a coffee perspective, **coffee practically originated in Africa**, and when you pair that with the unmatched hospitality of South Africans, you get a **damn good cup of coffee**! I started to realize that espresso drinks had **rich, complex flavors**—full of life and inspiration. Compare that to [Starbucks](https://www.starbucks.com/?ref=robweidner.com), where most drinks seem like *milk with a hint of coffee flavor*.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/AD97CCE1-5D37-428E-9748-B4D0E749E6EC_1_105_c.jpeg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/AC28BE25-39B6-42B3-9BD9-2070C31598E2_1_105_c.jpeg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/D291DE06-EDEE-446C-9087-CFFF43D43B7F_1_105_c.jpeg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/1136BF4E-BC5C-49E7-9ABD-FABE80925E87_1_105_c.jpeg)

Some Cape Town Coffeeshops

And let’s talk about **flavors**. I love flavors. I love coffee. But I want my **coffee to taste like coffee**—is that too much to ask? I don’t want it to taste like **milk**. I don’t want it to taste like **sugarplum fairies**. I just want **coffee**.

After graduating from DePauw, I was secretly planning to open a **pizza brewery** (story for another post), but I eventually walked away from it. Instead, I hopped right back on a plane to **Africa**. There, you could get a **beautiful cup of coffee for just $2**, so there was never really a need to indulge at home.

I had a **Bialetti** and an **AeroPress**, and that worked well. My good friend Youseff had a **Breville Barista Express**, and I remember being in awe of such a machine. I told myself that one day, I'd own that Barista Express, and that would be the day I had "made it." Turns out, I was both **right and wrong**.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/575BC7D2-E793-4CE5-85F8-C22F730E12FC_1_105_c.jpeg)

When my wife and I moved back to the USA during the **COVID-19 pandemic**, after spending eight years in **Africa and the Middle East**, I was shocked by how **insanely expensive and underwhelming** American coffee had become. One day, I told Cassidy, *"We can do better."* After one last **$12 café run** in **San Diego**, she said, *"If you can make coffee taste as good as this at home, and we can save money doing it, I'm in."* And just like that, the can of worms was opened.

I was intrigued by the **Nespresso Vertuo** with its barcode scanning and centrifuge technology. It seemed promising, so we tried it for a few months—but I was relieved to sell that piece of junk. **Do yourself a favor—skip capsule machines.** So much of coffee’s flavor comes from the **grind and roast**, and with capsules, you have no idea how fresh the coffee is. Plus, the waste is ridiculous.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/85562BB3-67E9-4064-BE60-B2993BCB7382_1_105_c-1.jpeg)

After researching, I knew I had to **dive into the Barista Express world**. I found an **open-box deal on Amazon** (we always try to buy second-hand or discounted items—it feels better and removes emotional attachment). A few days later, it arrived, and I got to work. I devoured videos from **Lance Hendrick** and **James Hoffmann**, refining my technique. *Espresso at home is a process*—you'll go through **half a bag of beans just dialing it in**.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/7C43435F-9330-4847-B568-46329913299E_1_105_c.jpeg)

While the **Breville Barista Express** is an amazing beginner’s machine, it takes skill. You can easily burn your shot, damage the machine, or get overwhelmed. And that’s the **double-edged sword**—I was the only one comfortable making coffee. As much as I love hosting, it became exhausting when guests expected me to pull perfect shots all night.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/8DD0D003-EAE0-45C2-8170-774B6C0A3D9D_1_105_c-1.jpeg)

After six months and hundreds of dollars in accessories, we threw in the towel and opted for a **super-automatic espresso machine**. The ability to press a button and get **quality coffee** was unbeatable. Ironically, *less control* made me happier—no endless tweaking, just **great coffee**.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/D1AEF617-2038-4AEB-872F-FDA9F9EECDBB_1_105_c-1.jpeg)

After more research, we landed on the **Philips LatteGo 2200**—great value, easy to clean, and solid milk frothing. If budget weren’t a concern, we’d have chosen a **Jura**, **Miele,** or the new **KitchenAid KF8**. If I ever open a café (*partners welcome!*), I’d explore **Eversys** machines for consistency and **Lelit, La Marzocca,** or **Gaggia** for fun.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/AB593F96-4C45-436A-B3FC-22AA98184E5F_1_105_c.jpeg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/3.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/image6344284_700x.webp)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9d/fd/9dfd4f1e-033b-45ef-89e9-0447dd89a095/content/images/2025/02/IMG_0295_2048x.webp)

I also love **cold coffee**, and companies like **Cumulus** and **Spinn** are making at-home cold brews easier. Right now, in addition to the **Philips**, I use a simple **cold brewer** with **freshly roasted beans from** [**DrinkTrade**](https://www.drinktrade.com/?ref=robweidner.com)—because **great coffee starts with great beans**.

At the end of the day, **automation isn’t just about convenience**—it’s about **freeing up my mind** to be creative and focus on delivering my best work. ☕